Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/329

 Battle near 8potsylvania Courthouse. 325

Legion was assigned to Gibbon's division. I had received orders during the day to move my command to the works I had captured on the 1 2th, and to attack the enemy at daylight on the i8th, in the intrenchments he then held in front of that position. The Sixth corps was directed to form on my right and assail the en- emy's line at the same hour. Before daylight, on the i8th, the troops were in the position designated and the preparations for the attack completed. At 4 A. M. Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to the assault, their troops in line of brigades. My ar- tillery was posted in the first line of works, firing during the action over our troops in front. Birney and Tyler were in reserve. The enemy held a strong line of intrenchments about one-half mile in front of and parallel to the works we had stormed on the I2th. His position was concealed by the forest and protected by heavy slashing and abatis.

"As our troops approached his line they encountered a severe fire of musketry and artillery, which completely swept his front, mak- ing great havoc in our ranks. They pressed forward, however, until they arrived at the edge of the abatis, which, with the heavy fire, arrested their progress. Many gallant attempts were made by our troops to penetrate the enemy's line, but without success. Finding that I was losing quite heavily, and there was but little probability of my being able to carry the enemy's position, I com- municated the state of affairs to the major-general commanding, and was directed by him to discontinue the attack. Accordingly, at ten A. M. I withdrew my troops and occupied the line of works in front of the Landrum House."

General Hancock, page 361 of Records, says: "May lyth, 1864, 8 A. M., Tyler's division, about 8,000 strong, mostly heavy ar- tillery, joined the Second corps, which will reinforce us sufficiently to make up our losses at the Wilderness, the Po, and Spotsylva- nia. The division massed near the Fredericksburg road.

"No movement of the Second corps until dark, when we marched back to the works we had captured on the I2th instant, at which point it is determined again to assault the enemy to-morrow morning.

"At 4:10 A. M. Barlow's and Gibbon's divisions having been formed in front of the captured works moved forward to assail the enemy in the lines he had occupied after the battle at this point on the 1 2th. Tyler's division in reserve in rifle pits running from